Thomas Partey is not going to play in Ghana’s first World Cup match in Toronto as a result of he has been refused entry to Canada.
The previous Arsenal midfielder, now at Villarreal, was charged by the Metropolitan Police in July 2025 with 5 counts of rape and one depend of sexual assault. In September of the identical yr, he pleaded not responsible. In February of this yr, he was newly charged with two counts of rape and pleaded not responsible in April.
Ghana is scheduled to play Panama at BMO Discipline in Toronto on Wednesday, June seventeenth, nevertheless it has been confirmed that Partey won’t be able to take part as he can’t enter Canada.
After the match towards Panama, Ghana will play England on June twenty third at Gillette Stadium (Boston) after which face Croatia in Group L on June twenty seventh at Lincoln Monetary Discipline (Philadelphia). Partey is eligible to play in each video games.
Partey, 32, was included within the squad for tournaments in america, Canada and Mexico earlier this month, and arrived in Washington, D.C., together with his teammates on June 4. The Ghanaian crew headed to their observe base in Rhode Island on Friday.
In a FIFA assertion: The Athletic “FIFA can affirm that participant Thomas Partey won’t be able to journey from the Ghanaian crew’s base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for the primary match towards Panama, as his visa software has been rejected by the Canadian authorities. FIFA will not be concerned within the host nation’s entry procedures, together with visa checks. As with earlier FIFA occasions, the host nation’s authorities finally decides who receives a visa and is allowed entry.”
“If in case you have dedicated or been convicted of a criminal offense, you is probably not allowed to enter Canada,” the Canadian authorities’s web site outlines. Partey has been charged however is awaiting trial and has not but been convicted.
The Athletic The Ghana Soccer Affiliation and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have been contacted for remark.
IRCC beforehand mentioned: The Athletic A pre-tournament assertion mentioned: “And not using a signed consent kind, IRCC can’t present additional particulars concerning particular person circumstances.
“Nonetheless, as we welcome FIFA World Cup members and guests from around the globe, we are able to say that the protection and safety of Canadians is our high precedence. That is why IRCC will constantly apply our guidelines with out exception, no matter nationality, profile or function within the match.”
“IRCC officers are educated decision-makers who assess a person’s eligibility and admission in accordance with Canadian immigration regulation. In the event that they decide that a person might pose a safety threat, they might resolve to disclaim entry.”
Seven fees of rape and one cost of sexual assault shall be heard at Southwark Crown Court docket in London. The trial was initially scheduled for November however might be postponed till early 2027. Underneath the phrases of his bail, Mr Partey is required to tell authorities of his plans to journey overseas.
The primary six fees contain three ladies and allegedly occurred in 2021 and 2022. Metropolitan Police Division detectives started investigating the social gathering in February 2022 after receiving a report of an alleged rape. The 2 extra fees relate to a fourth girl after separate reviews of non-recent legal exercise had been made in 2020 following a brand new investigation by the Metropolitan District. These allegations had been first reported to police in August 2025.
Partey continued to play for Arsenal till the tip of his contract, making 35 Premier League appearances within the 2024-25 season, his final on the Emirates Stadium. Partey performed 32 video games for Villarreal in the course of the 2025-26 home season. His contract with the Spanish membership expires on the finish of June, however has a one-year extension possibility.
